Impact Of Nuclear Power Plant Research Articles

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant impact on regional economies from 1960 to 2010

Understanding the economic and social impact of nuclear power on a region is crucial; this is particularly important for Fukushima because the region relies on nuclear power and its sustainable recovery following the nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi. However, existing studies do not reveal any consensus on the economic impact of nuclear power plants. Further, long-term time-series data for conducting such an analysis are lacking; so, for this study, a long-term database from 1960 to 2010 was constructed (before the earthquake and nuclear power plant accidents happened in 2011). The data were analyzed to evaluate the effects of the nuclear power plants on employment in various sectors in Fukushima, using the difference-in-differences (DID) and staggered DID methods. Unlike previous studies, this study revealed that nuclear power surprisingly increased agricultural employment (892.62 more jobs) while reducing manufacturing employment (−466.40 fewer jobs) due to crowding-out effects. Furthermore, although employment in the construction sector also increased, the impact was temporary. These findings highlight the complex economic dynamics triggered by the presence of a nuclear power plant, which may have significant implications for long-term recovery strategies in the region. Despite the positive impacts on certain sectors, the negative effects on manufacturing underscore the need for careful consideration in future economic planning and recovery efforts. The study's findings provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by regions hosting nuclear power plants, which must be considered for long-term recovery.

SACTI model in prediction and assessment of large scale natural draft cooling tower environmental impact of nuclear power plant

Large Scale Natural Draft Cooling Tower has become a hot topic in China because it is an important part of the nuclear power plant, and its environmental impacts include shading, solar energy loss, water deposition and salt deposition. In China, there is no built large-scale natural draft cooling tower of nuclear power plant. Therefore, model prediction becomes an effective way to solve this problem. This paper introduces the basic principles and structure of SACTI (Seasonal and Annual Cooling Tower Impact) model. SACTI is a cooling tower assessment model developed by Argonne National Laboratory, USA. A comparative case study between China's Pengze Nuclear Power Plant and the US Amos Power Plant is also presented. Calculations were carried out for the Pengze and Amos power plants, and the results showed that the maximum value of salt deposition at the Pengze plant was about 166.5 kg/(km2-month) at a distance of 800 m from the cooling tower. The maximum value of salt deposition at the Amos plant was about 92.85 kg/(km2-month) at a distance of 600 m from the cooling tower. Conclusions show that the research work can provide a useful solution in future work, the simulation results of the SACTI model have a potential mean in the absence of monitoring data. This research provides a way to generate simulation data through SACTI program in the design process of nuclear power plant cooling tower, and designers can use these data to determine how the cooling tower will affect the natural environment and manage within an appropriate range to reduce the impact on the environment.

Impact of Nuclear Power Plant on Subarctic Habitat and Fish Metabolism

Impact of Nuclear Power Plant on Subarctic Habitat and Fish Metabolism

Evaluating the impact of airborne radionuclides caused by the Fukushima nuclear accident on China based on global atmospheric dispersion

In response to the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and other countries have conducted extensive monitoring and research. This article used an improved global atmospheric dispersion model WRF-Chem to simulate the global transport of radioactive materials released by the Fukushima nuclear. And mainly analyzed its impact on China, using the monitoring data of the environmental protection department to analyze the environmental level of atmospheric radioactivity and evaluate the model. The results showed that the radioactive plume spread from west to east, across the Pacific Ocean, the American continent and Europe, and finally, it spread to the entire northern hemisphere. China first detected I-131 in Heilongjiang Province on March 23, and until April 3, all provinces in China detected radionuclides from Fukushima nuclides. Combining the time taken by the radioactive plume to reach various parts of China, it can be inferred that the radioactive material can reach China through three routes, which may be the main reason why the leaked nuclides reach China and Europe in the same time. The global proliferation model tested by the FDNPP accident can provide a reference for the potential radiation impact of nuclear power plants, help understand the potential threat of future nuclear accidents, and provide support for nuclear accident monitoring and emergency measures.

Economic Growth Effect of Nuclear Power Plants on Location Cities Based on Counterfactual Analysis with Prefecture-Level Panel Data of Mainland China

ABSTRACTWhether the local economy can benefit from nuclear power plants will not only influence policymakers’ decision, but also the residents’ attitude. It is of great practical and academic value to scientifically evaluate and accurately measure the impact of nuclear power plants on the local economy. Based on the panel data of 287 prefecture-level cities in mainland China from 1998 to 2017, the HCW model was employed to construct the counterfactuals of the per capita real GDP of four cities where the four newly-put-into-commercial-operation nuclear power plants were located after the global financial crisis. We measured the promotion effect of nuclear power plants on the economic growth of the localities and found that the nuclear power plants as a whole have improved the per capita real GDP of the localities. From the time dimension, the nuclear power plants as a whole have a rising effect of 1963.65 yuan on per capita real GDP per year; from an individual perspective, each nuclear power plant can increase the per capita real GDP per year by 1415.67 yuan. For the location where the per capita real GDP is low, the nuclear power plant has a stronger economic growth effect; for the location where the per capita real GDP is high, the economic growth effect of the nuclear power plant is relatively weak, and may even have an inhibitory effect. Governments should choose the relatively less-developed cities as the possible alternative ones to achieve the maximal acceleration effect on local economic growth and harvest the greatest support of local residents. Governments should also make efforts to keep the continuity and succession in time of different sub-projects to ensure the local economy can enjoy a sustainable boosting.

A Comprehensive Study of the 14C Source Term in the 10 MW High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor

ABSTRACTWhile assessing the environmental impact of nuclear power plants, researchers have focused their attention on radiocarbon (14C) owing to its high mobility in the environment and important radiological impact on human beings. The 10 MW high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTR-10) is the first pebble-bed gas-cooled test reactor in China that adopted helium as primary coolant and graphite spheres containing tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) coated particles as fuel elements. A series of experiments on the 14C source terms in HTR-10 was conducted: (1) measurement of the specific activity and distribution of typical nuclides in the irradiated graphite spheres from the core, (2) measurement of the activity concentration of 14C in the primary coolant, and (3) measurement of the amount of 14C discharged in the effluent from the stack. All experimental data on 14C available for HTR-10 were summarized and analyzed using theoretical calculations. A sensitivity study on the total porosity, open porosity, and percentage of closed pores that became open after irradiating the matrix graphite was performed to illustrate their effects on the activity concentration of 14C in the primary coolant and activity amount of 14C in various deduction routes.

The Macro Impacts of International NPP Projects

The paper investigates the impact of NPP (nuclear power plant) export projects on the national economies of the supplier and recipient countries. The effects generated on the macrolevel are systematized, and an input—output (I–O) table is used to analyze the methods for estimating the macroeconomic effects of NPP export projects. The macroeconomic effects of NPP projects on the Republic of Korea are explored, and valuable insights are gained to further contribute to the studies on the impact of international NPP projects implemented by the Russian Federation.

Analysis of the impact of introduction of nuclear power plants on energy characteristics and environment in Egypt

Most of electricity is produced by turbines, turned by steam from thermal generators that heating water to steam by burning different fuel, such as coal, natural gas and nuclear fuel. This paper proposed three scenarios to analyze the impact of nuclear power plant on the Egyptian electric grid from price, carbon dioxide emission, water consumption and fossil fuel consumption. The low scenario introduces the electricity generated without any nuclear plant. The basic scenario studies the expectation of the government program to 2030 that indicates the impact of first nuclear plant. We proposed the high scenario to study the impact of the nuclear power in 2030 as a double expectation of basic scenario. Wide applications of clean energy and those agreements for air environmental protection becomes an important target for the world. Analysis of the different energy resources and electricity generation fuels indicates that the nuclear energy is important for the poor fossil countries.

ECOLOGICAL FORECASTING IN THE NUCLEAR POWER OF XXI CENTURY

It is shown the potential role of nuclear energy in sustainable energy supply ensuring and mitigating of the negative environmental impacts of electricity production from fossil fuels. Given is the capability of fast neutron reactors with sodium coolant (FNR) for solving the problems of fuel resources optimal use and waste minimization by closing the nuclear fuel cycle. The analysis of the impact of nuclear power plants with FNR on the environment and personnel is made. The architecture of a promising two-component nuclear energy of XXI century is described.

Distribution of radionuclides in a marine sediment core off the waterspout of the nuclear power plants in Daya Bay, northeastern South China Sea

A sediment core was collected and dated using 210Pbex dating method off the waterspout of nuclear power base of Daya Bay, northeastern South China Sea. The γ-emitting radionuclides were analyzed using HPGe γ spectrometry, gross alpha and beta radioactivity as well as other geochemical indicators were deliberated to assess the impact of nuclear power plants (NPP) operation and to study the past environment changes. It suggested that NPP provided no new radioactivity source to sediment based on the low specific activity of 137Cs. Two broad peaks of TOC, TC and LOI accorded well with the commercial operations of Daya Bay NPP (1994.2 and 1994.5) and LNPP Phase I (2002.5 and 2003.3), implying that the mass input of cooling water from NPP may result into a substantial change in the ecological environment and Daya Bay has been severely impacted by human activities.

Assessment of environmental public exposure from a hypothetical nuclear accident for Unit-1 Bushehr nuclear power plant

Unit-1 of the Bushehr nuclear power plant (BNPP-1) is a VVER-type reactor with 1,000-MWe power constructed near Bushehr city at the coast of the Persian Gulf, Iran. The reactor has been recently operational to near its full power. The radiological impact of nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents is of public concern, and the assessment of radiological consequences of any hypothetical nuclear accident on public exposure is vital. The hypothetical accident scenario considered in this paper is a design-basis accident, that is, a primary coolant leakage to the secondary circuit. This scenario was selected in order to compare and verify the results obtained in the present paper with those reported in the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR 2007) of the BNPP-1 and to develop a well-proven methodology that can be used to study other and more severe hypothetical accident scenarios for this reactor. In the present study, the version 2.01 of the PC COSYMA code was applied. In the early phase of the accidental releases, effective doses (from external and internal exposures) as well as individual and collective doses (due to the late phase of accidental releases) were evaluated. The surrounding area of the BNPP-1 within a radius of 80 km was subdivided into seven concentric rings and 16 sectors, and distribution of population and agricultural products was calculated for this grid. The results show that during the first year following the modeled hypothetical accident, the effective doses do not exceed the limit of 5 mSv, for the considered distances from the BNPP-1. The results obtained in this study are in good agreement with those in the FSAR-2007 report. The agreement obtained is in light of many inherent uncertainties and variables existing in the two modeling procedures applied and proves that the methodology applied here can also be used to model other severe hypothetical accident scenarios of the BNPP-1 such as a small and large break in the reactor coolant system as well as beyond design-basis accidents. Such scenarios are planned to be studied in the near future, for this reactor.

Support for Nuclear Energy in the Context of Climate Change

The relatively low carbon impact of nuclear power plants and the concern over global warming have renewed both interest in and controversy over expanding nuclear energy. This study uses survey data from nations of the European Union to examine sociodemographic differences among individuals and national differences in levels and processes of support for nuclear energy. Results based on multilevel models for 27 to 29 European nations reveal relatively low support for nuclear energy, even among those concerned about climate change, but consistent patterns of determinants. At the individual level, high socioeconomic status tends to increase support for nuclear energy. At the national level, the presence of operating nuclear power plants in a country leads to higher public support. Both these results more strongly support arguments focusing on the importance of familiarity with the technology than arguments focusing on postmaterialist values. In addition, rightist political views increase support for nuclear energy, but political divisions prove particularly important in high-income nations with postmaterialist values.

Nuclear Energy: A Perspective on Recent Results on the Removal of Strontium from Waste

Nuclear Energy: A Perspective on Recent Results on the Removal of Strontium from Waste

Financial Impact of Nuclear Power Plants: Firstenergy and Davis-Besse

In March 2002, during a scheduled refueling outage, workers at FirstEnergy's Davis-Besse nuclear power plant found a football-sized hole in the reactor head caused by boric acid corrosion. Redundant shielding prevented any radiation leakage, but FirstEnergy projected the outage would last two to three months and cost from $15 million to $30 million. Instead, the outage lasted 26 months and cost $588.9 million. Students will learn the financial impact of the event, how investors reacted, and lessons in financial transparency.

Financial Impact of Nuclear Power Plants: Pseg and Hope Creek

This case is about the financial impact of negative publicity and a company's reaction. A Public Service Enterprise Group had ownership interest in five nuclear power plants, three of which were located in Lower Alloways Creek, New Jersey. These three plants had been cited for concerns about a safety conscious work environment by a fired employee and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. One U.S. senator and two congressmen had written a letter to NRC requesting an investigation of the situation.

Financial Impact of Nuclear Power Plants: Dominion Resources, Inc.

Dominion Resources was the fourth-largest operator of nuclear power plants in the United States with seven nuclear reactors in operation. Two of the reactors had been acquired in the past five years: Millstone (2) in 2001 and Kewaunee in 2005. This case is about excellent due diligence and financial disclosure in acquiring major fixed assets (nuclear power plants) and the impact on the financial results and investor confidence.

Impact of Nuclear Power Plants of the Pwr-Type on River Water Quality (Case-Report of the River Meuse)

Five years' experience with data of the TAILFER plant located 48 km downstream of the nuclear power site of GHOOZ is reported so as to provide guidelines for the examination of future nuclear cases. The factors considered are: the reduction in water flow and thermal impacts, the discharge of nuclear active effluents and the physico-chemical impact of enrichment in salts and suspended matter. Primary importance must be given to the proportion of the discharges in terms of added (instantaneous) volume activities. In the case of inland rivers the most active effluents, including the particular isotope tritium, are contained in a reduced volume (1400 m3/l000 MWe), and are best evacuated to other sites. Guidelines to check the river water quality are based on the measurement of 3H, total γ, and especifically, Go60, Cs13737, Mn54, Co58, and Cs134. Flow measurement and river transfer modelling must be part of the study of the impact as illustrated by this case-report.

Environmental Impact of Nuclear Power Plants. Proceedings of a Conference Held November 26-30, 1974.R. A. Karam , Karl Z. Morgan

Previous articleNext article No AccessNew Biological BooksEnvironmental Impact of Nuclear Power Plants. Proceedings of a Conference Held November 26-30, 1974. R. A. Karam , Karl Z. Morgan James J. MacKenzieJames J. MacKenzie Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Quarterly Review of Biology Volume 52, Number 3Sep., 1977 Published in association with Stony Brook University Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/410069 Views: 4Total views on this site PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

State of the Art Survey of Reference Sources in Engineering

This survey covers civil, electrical and electronics, energy, environment, general, materials, mechanical, and traffic and transportation engineering. Areas such as biomedical and chemical engineering will be dealt with in future issues. Readers may find that the classifications included in this survey are not mutually exclusive but do occasionally overlap with one another. For instance, the section on environmental engineering includes a review of a book on the environmental impact of nuclear power plants, which might as easily have been part of the section on energy technology. Before we go into a discussion of data bases and indexes, I would like to note in this introductory section some recent bibliographic aids published during the period surveyed. Most engineering libraries will find them very valuable in their reference and acquisition functions. Since normal review sources will cover these books, I am merely listing them below: Malinowski, Harold Robert, Richard A. Gray and Dorothy A. Gray. Science and Engineering Literature. 2d ed., Littleton, Colorado, Libraries Unlimited, 1976. 368p. LC 76–17794 ISBN 0–87287–098–7. $13.30; Mildren, K. W., ed. Use of Engineering Literature. Woburn, Mass., Butterworths, 1976. 621p. ISBN 0–408–70714–3. $37.95. Mount, Ellis. Guide to Basic Information Sources in Engineering. New York, Wiley, Halsted Press, 1976. 196p. LC 75–43261 ISBN 0–47070–15013–0. $11.95 and Guide to European Sources of Technical Information. 4th ed., edited by Ann Pernet. Guernsey, Eng., F. Hodgson, 1976. 415p. ISBN 0–85280–161–0. $52.00.

Book reviewEnvironmental Impact of Nuclear Power Plants. Edited by KaramR. A. and MorganKarl Z., pp. 546, 1976 (Pergamon Press Inc.,) £17·50.

This tome contains the 23 papers presented at a conference, held in November 1974, sponsored by the School of Nuclear Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, U.S.A. The stated purpose of the conference was “to bring together experts to discuss and exchange information with executives and engineers from the power industry and personnel from federal and state agencies on important issues concerning the impact of nuclear power plants on the environment”.